Boomers in retirement Image: sxc.hu

Especially in today’s world, with the economic situation in disarray and retirement money often much less than expected, change is inevitable.  The change can destroy or buoy us.  We can meet the challenges as an adventure or  fall through the cracks in the sidewalk.

This can be a time for boomers to explore the small business options, those that don’t involve a great deal of investment or overhead, but will give them some much needed income.   This is not to say it will be easy, finding avenues of income that will make up for that lost.  But boomers are up to the challenge!

What are you doing to adjust to change in today’s world? 

(Remember, President Obama said we were going to experience “change” with him!  It may or may not be what you expected, but change it certainly is.)

Post from: Small Business Boomers

Find a need and fill it as the mom did who makes reusable lunch bags to eliminate the need for so many disposable sandwich bags.

Is pet sitting a possibility?  I heard someone else mentioning that it was hard to go on a trip because it was so expensive to leave their pets at a kennel. 

Is there a need in your area for companions for the elderly?  Two friends were discussing the fact that someone they knew was looking for a reliable person to spend time with an elderly person when family wasn’t there.  They thought another friend, who had lost her job, would be a perfect fit. 

The world is into “green” and “environmentally safe” items.  Is there anything you can do or make that falls into this category?  People seem more willing to pay money for this type of item than otherwise.

Expand upon a hobby that will provide a necessary service or product.

Continue looking for some type of job, parttime if necessary, to fill in the monetary gaps while you get a business going.  Don’t insist one you’re trained for or what you’ve done in the past.  Be willing to learn something new as I have by working at a deli.  You may even find it fun.

How have  you found creative ways to expand your small business, to start one or work at a parttime job?

(Image:sxc.hu)

Post from: Small Business Boomers

Post from: Small Business Boomers

The concept of “green” actually started, as I remember, back in the 1960’s with the environmental movement.  I first heard about it when I was in college, over 40 years ago.  Incentives (“the carrot”) and fines/penalties (“the stick”) brought about massive changes in the way businesses worked; I remember the dramatic changes in the skyline of Cleveland, Ohio, where I lived at the time.  Within a decade, you could actually see the sun over the Cuyahoga River valley, instead of pollution.

The environmental movement grew and changed, as these kinds of things do, and I remember 15 years later hearing about it when I lived down in Florida.  People then were worried about the vanishing Everglades and the panther and alligator.

When I think of “green, I see “sustainable,” as in building with renewable (non-polluting) resources.  It may also mean “green brands” – those products which are made from renewable resources and which conserve the environment.

While we all agree “green is good,” and we may be firmly in favor of the “green” movement, now may not be the time to start a green business.

Greenbiz (a website detailing green initiatives and stories about green businesses) says the green movement may be slowing down because of the market downturn. For example, the demand for recyclables has declined and the higher prices of green products are keeping many from buying.

Bottom line:  Think carefully before you decide to put green products on the market.  If you are charging higher prices for these products, you may need to find a way to market them as “money-saving” in the long run.

While “green” products are still marketable, it may be a while before consumers will buy them purely for their their eco-value.

Post from: Small Business Boomers